In-form Spiders climb up to fifth
MacPherson’s men continue excellent run
Gus MacPherson reckons Queen’s Park’s rivals will be sitting up and taking notice – after his in-form side climbed to fifth.
A Ross Millen penalty and a Paul Woods strike, after Ross C Stewart put Rovers in front, made it five wins in six games for the super Spiders at Hampden on Saturday.
The Glasgow outfit are now just two points behind fourth-placed Brechin City in the League One table.
And delighted boss MacPherson said: “A few teams will be looking and saying ‘they are up there’.
“There is a belief in the group that we can certainly compete at this level of football.
“You can see the desire and hunger but it’s not just that. The quality we showed in the first half was very high and we caused them a few problems. We’re in this position because of our work ethic.
“Yes, you look at it but it doesn’t mean a great deal [being fifth in the league]. You can see how competitive the league is and how quickly it can change.
“I can assure you that we never set any targets. When you come up, you have got to be competitive. That’s what we will continue to be and we will set no targets.”
Rovers took the lead after just three minutes when Ross C Stewart arrived at the back post to fire home his eighth goal of the season from Ryan Wallace’s driven cross.
However, the Spiders equalised in the 15th minute with Millen converting from the spot after keeper Ross M Stewart brought down David Galt in the box.
And the Rovers goalie’s day went from bad to worse when he spilled a long-range effort from Woods into his own net as the interval approached.
The second half was a tame affair with the hosts in total control.
Rovers lacked quality middle to front, meaning Spiders custodian William Muir was a virtual spectator.
The hosts had a chance to seal the points a minute from time when sub John Carter was clean through – but Stewart blocked well.
It continues to be one step forward and two steps back in the league for Rovers who drop to sixth place in the standings.
Rovers player/manager Darren Young said: “Queen’s Park deserved to win. They outplayed and outpassed us. We never created anything and the two goals we lost were terrible.”
The Spiders are on the road at third-placed Alloa Athletic this Saturday.
MacPherson said: “I still think with the resources they’ve got, and the recruitment under Jack Ross, they are one of the fancied sides in the division.
“They have experienced guys who have played at a high level so we know that it is going to be a tough game.
“We lost very narrowly to them at Hampden but we gave a good account of ourselves.”